MBB: Liberty League

rjcarter8 · January 13, 2007, 09:51:41 PM

What's up in LL?

Hamilton loses to Clarkson, the beats St. Lawrence. St. Lawrence beats Hobart, Hobart turns around and beats Clarkson. Meanwhile, Union, 3-7 entering league play, is now 3-0 (albeit one win against Skidmore)after three league road games to start out LL play.

Does anyone know what is going on here?

met_fan · January 13, 2007, 10:35:46 PM

What's going on is a lot of mediocrity.

shooters · January 15, 2007, 10:06:20 AM

Someone else said it on here and i'm going to elaborate a little further. TK is an amazing talent, no doubt but after watching about five of their games I have to tell you this....he could be the biggest waste of talent I've seen in years. He has all the ability in the world but he just doesn't have the hunger. He gets his touches each game and can score at will but for some reason that I can't explain sometimes it seems he doesn't want to do it. He is leading the team in minutes, the ball goes through him on offense, and there are many times he just doesn't get engaged. He has all-american talent with a junior high mentality. He is missing that passion or killer instinct or something. I am happy to see Nick Jones starting to play better, and I think Clarkson played their butts off and Hamilton came out flat the other night, and Clarkson is just good enough that if you don't bring your A game they will get you.

cu_bball · January 15, 2007, 10:12:37 AM

yeah there is little consistency in the league...seems like teams are preparing for one opponent a weekend

Hoaf · January 15, 2007, 11:38:14 AM

Okay, so the story on TK is that he's been really sick for the past couple of weeks. He's barely been able to talk from what I've heard on campus. Most likely, he's not playing with "hunger" because he can barely eat. I think it's amazing that he's been playing so well while being so out of it.

Clarkson beat Hamilton because we came out flat and they killed us with 3 pointers in the first half. Hamilton did have the ability to win the game if they didn't screw up key possessions and miss some lay ups down the stretch. But the team could learn a lot from that loss because they now know they are capable of playing a full court press for a whole half and overtaking a 20 point deficit.

I'm really happy to see Hamilton run a full court press. I've been wondering for the past two seasons why they never implemented it when down in close games. They have consistently been forcing turnovers when in that defensive set.

On another note, there seems to be a lot parity among LL teams this year. It's surprising to see good teams lose one night to a bad team and beat a stellar team the next night.

Anybody have any thought on this? Is it because a lot of teams are carrying experienced players and very talented freshman? Or what?

Hoaf · January 15, 2007, 02:32:58 PM

To continue on my last thought. I don't think it is a lack of consistency but just more parity among the teams. Every team in the LL has similar players and talent except for a couple top notch and bottom feeding teams.

rjcarter8 · January 16, 2007, 10:45:19 AM

Well, Union is 3-0 -- though that can't last -- and a big part of that is the play of Nick DiMaggio, a freshman guard who's been lighting it up. I don't know his numbers, I just knwo he's been the high scorer the last few games.

The Dutchmen also have been getting good play from senior guard Joe Mackey and junior center Kyle Grimm. But Union has few players with experience, the latter two guys having the most.

DDirty22 · January 16, 2007, 03:35:39 PM

Any predictions for tonights game?

I got St. Lawrence over Clarkson and Vassar over RPI in a nail bitter.

cu_bball · January 16, 2007, 09:52:13 PM

SLU made Clarkson look bad tonight.....Clarkson ran the same play over and over with the same results...nothing...

bucketsallday · January 17, 2007, 03:20:44 AM

vassar smacks rpi 63-51. wasnt as close as the score says. when vassar as someone else scorin (tonight butterworth went for 18) they are going to be tough to beat. also, neil wesson may be the most overrated player in the LL.

DDirty22 · January 17, 2007, 12:45:53 PM

I agree... If St. Lawrence and Clarkson aren't careful, Vassar could come out with two wins this weekend away from home.

bucketsallday · January 17, 2007, 03:29:28 PM

definently agree there. vassar always shoots well in st lawrences gym, and this is the best shooting team vassar has ever had. vassar - clarkson games the past few years have been lowscoring slugfests, and i wouldnt expect any different this year.

this weekend is a huge opportunity for vassar to make a statement in the LL. expect them to come out fired up and ready to play both nights.

b4the3isme · January 17, 2007, 04:50:28 PM

I'm not quite ready to jump on the Vassar bandwagon yet. Their wins have come against teams with a combined records of 40 wins and 69 losses. Their best win to me looks to be over RPI who is 8-6. There is an opportunity for a mindset adjustment this weekend but I believe it will be unlikely that Vassar will win 2.

Hoaf · January 17, 2007, 07:06:12 PM

Same here... Not on the bandwagon. I know most of the seniors from their team and I don't buy into it. They don't have a winning mentality. Without that they won't get that far even in the Liberty League.

I'm glad to see SLU rebounded from the loss against Hamilton to beat Clarkson the other night. SLU is a solid team this year.

woot returns · January 17, 2007, 11:51:51 PM

the curse of the liberty league rookie of the year continues.

2003-2004: Tk & Jones --->bust
2004-2005: Lawrence Avitable ---->bust
2005-2006: Bela Vonnek ---> Bust so far